Medent Safety was delighted to host some of the Mozambican buyers at our office to do a technical demonstration of the various products we distribute, with various safety products being identified for use in a variety of industries and working environments.

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Compliments of the new year and best wishes for 2021.

As the country officially enters another lock down today, Medent Safety remains open as an essential service and we are available to assist with your product and service requirements as a distributor of PPE for occupational health and safety and items that assist in the fight against Covid-19.

With this recent Covid-19 resurgence we are receiving a high volume of enquiries on respirators, particularly the 8810disposablerespirator. Given the prevailing shortages, limited allocations received from OEM’s and increased demand on account of there surgence, I implore our clients to ensure they are adequately stocked within the constraints to ensure that their employees are protected. Where disposable respirators are unavailable, I encourage clients to consider the reusable respirator(6300 & 6500 respirator) as a capable alternative which is more readily available.

It is also proper for us to indicate that as of the time of this communication,we have limited information on future supplies as source markets regrettably tend to prioritize their home markets on supplies and protection before exports to Zimbabwe.

Our Business Development Executives remain available to conduct meetings on platforms such as Microsoft Teams where necessary.

As we continue to fight this global pandemic, please remember to wear a mask, wash or sanitize your hands and exercise physical distancing.

Yours sincerely,

Kudzai Gwanzura

Chief Business Development Executive

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The effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic continue to affect respiratory protection supply chains, with the market leading 3M products continuously having demand that far outpaces supply. We remain in constant dialogue with 3M South Africa to understand the gravity of the situation, which in turn ensures that our clients understand the implications of respiratory product supplies on your own operations.

6000 series reusable respirators such as the 6300 & 6500 half face mask, and 6800 full face masks are now more readily available than before. However, please note that the 6038 encapsulated cartridge which mitigates dust, odor, welding fumes and nuisance levels of organic vapors is in short supply. I therefore urge clients who require this consumable to consult our Business Development Executives on availability and lead times.

The 8810 disposable respirator has back orders of up to 10-12 months and will continue being in limited supply for the foreseeable future.

Again, I urge you to work closely with our BDE’s who can assist in forecasting and advising on availability of various products with appropriate lead times. Where 3M disposable respirators are not available, I encourage clients to explore alternative 3M reusable respirators, as well as other disposable respirators that we offer from original equipment manufacturers such as Makrite and Uvex. All disposable respirators sold by Medent Safety are NIOSH approved.

The advent of the COVID-19 global pandemic was something that we all weren’t prepared for. The pandemic has had a negative impact on a multitude of industries as we have seen businesses closed and restrictions imposed on the movement of goods and people. Concurrent with these developments, we have seen a massive spike in demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as the 3M 1860 N95 and 8810 FFP 2 disposable respirators in our region. This has led to shortages in PPE supplies due to limited availability of raw materials to manufacture and manufacturing capabilities not being able to meet demand.
In discussions held with 3M South Africa where the 8810 is manufactured, we have been advised that it will be at least 15-24 months before the supply chain normalizes, a clear indication that the challenges we face will be with us for the foreseeable future.

In this regard, we at Medent Safety are looking at alternative ways of servicing our clients’ needs whilst ensuring that your employees who work in hazardous conditions are adequately protected against the risks associated with your operations. This includes educating our clients on alternative respiratory protection such as use of the 3M 6300 and 6500 reusable respirators with relevant cartridges and filters. Not only do these respirators last for a longer period, but they also cost less over a longer period where disposable respirators are in use. Where we have clients who insist on the use of disposable respirators, I urge you to work closely with our Business Development Executives who can assist in forecasting and sourcing limited quantities with various lead times. Given the current operating climate, the days of just in time (JIT) orders are a thing of the past. Expectations of required quantities being supplied at client given timelines run the risk of not being able to procure sufficient PPE. We continue to work with our original equipment manufacturer suppliers to source
necessary PPE supplies but in order to do so, we require sufficient lead times and, in some cases, an upfront commitment in the form of a prepayment.

We are aware of price gouging and arbitrage going on in the market. In the grey trade area, i.e. unauthorized distributors, a single 8810 disposable respirator is retailing between US $3.50 – $5.00 ex VAT. These are highly inflated figures and unjustifiable. I would like to emphasize that Medent Safety does not participate in these kinds of activities as we would never seek to profiteer during a global pandemic. These are truly unprecedented times that we are living in that call for us to change the waywe have traditionally done business. As we continue to navigate the ‘new norm’, I call on all companies and individuals to stand together responsibly in the fight against COVID-19. With our valued stakeholders, we will continue to work together to ensure that your PPE requirements are met as best as they possibly can to ensure that your employees are adequately protected.

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How to wear your mask.

• Wear your mask secure over your mouth and nose.
• Wear your mask secure over your mouth and nose.

How to store your mask when going to the bathroom, taking a drink or eating.

• Place your mask on a clean paper towel. (Exterior of the mask facing down with the ties placed away from the inside.)
• Store your mask in a clean paper bag.

How NOT to wear your mask.

• Do not wear your mask under your mouth.
• Do not pull your mask under chin, even to drink.
• Do not wear your mask on your elbow.
• Do not hang your mask from one ear.

Remember to always use proper hand hygiene before putting on and taking off your mask.

• Protective gear should conform to anatomy and not slide around.
• Vulnerable areas are the head, hands,knees, elbows, shoulders and hips.
• Gear should be bought for the protective qualities and not as a fashion statement.

• Full-face helmet: A full-face helmet provides the most protection. Thirty-five percent of all road crashes experienced by bikers show major impact on the chin-bar area.
• Gloves — Pavement and ground will mangle unprotected hands. Gloves should be specifically designed for the mining activity performed. Commonly made of leather, cordura, or kevlar, or some combination. Some include carbon fiber knuckle protection or other forms of rigid padding. Some gloves also provide protection to the wrist.
• Jackets — Generally made from leather, ballistic nylon, cordura, kevlar or other synthetics. Most jackets include special padding on elbows, spine and shoulders.
• Pants — Made of the same material as jackets, usually including special protection for the knees and hips. Some people prefer cotton denim jeans with kevlar reinforcement.
• Boots — especially designed for the mining activity undertaken and could include reinforcement and plastic caps on the ankles, and toe area.
• Goggles or Helmet Visor — Eye protection is of utmost importance – kicked-up pebbles or pieces of metal in the eye at speed has enough momentum to cause significant damage.
• Ear plugs —Ear plugs help protect against hearing damage, and even reduces fatigue.
• Vests — made with high-visibility colours and retro reflective materials, vests can be worn over jackets to increase the chance of being seen. This becomes even more important especially in adverse conditions of dark and wet.

In many cases, PPE needs to be tough and durable to protect the wearer. In other situations, the protective clothing may get so dirty or damaged that it will be rendered useless. Still others call for fresh, clean protective clothing each time. The latter two situations are where disposable PPE comes into play.

What Is Disposable Protective Clothing?

Disposable PPE refers to protective clothing that is intended for one-time use by a single individual. It is not to be shared and not to be laundered for multiple uses, as washing disposable clothing can alter its protective or barrier capabilities, rendering it ineffective.

A variety of disposable protective clothing options exist. Common ones include:

• Coveralls
• Aprons
• Boot or shoe covers
• Hair covers
• Ear plugs
• Face masks
• Gloves

Suitable Applications for Disposable PPE

Not every application requires disposable clothing, and not every application is right for it. But here are a few common scenarios when single-use PPE is perfect.

Tasks that require clean, fresh PPE every time – Some situations require that clothing be brand new each time to ensure it hasn’t been contaminated. This is especially true in many food, medical and lab atmospheres. Since disposable clothing is only worn once, you can be certain that it is clean and free of any residue.

Situations where clothing gets extremely dirty or damaged – For work in which clothing gets excessively soiled or damaged, disposable PPE is an excellent choice. It simply doesn’t make sense to purchase and re-purchase expensive protective clothing on a regular basis because it gets too dirty too quickly. With disposable options, workers can get as messy as they need to without worrying about whether they will be able to use their gear the following day.

For visitors – Laundering PPE can be costly, and while the cost might be worth it for your everyday employees, that isn’t always the case for visitors. If the workplace has occasional visitors who must don PPE before entering, having disposable options available is an affordable alternative.

Specific industries – Industries that commonly require disposable protective clothing include:

• Motor repair
• Chemical and asbestos removal
• Food preparation
• Pharmaceutical
• Healthcare

Things to Consider When Choosing Your Gear

Disposable protective clothing isn’t always up to the same quality standards as its reusable counterparts. And since the main goal of PPE is to protect the wearer, quality is one of the main things you’ll want to consider before deciding what – if any – disposable PPE is right for your workers. Start by asking these questions:

• What type of work will be done using this PPE?
• What hazards are present in the work area?
• What areas of the body do the hazards pose a risk to?
• What level of strength is necessary for the material to meet safety standards?
• Is the work environment hygiene-critical?
• Is there a chance that the clothing will come into contact with bodily fluids?
• Does the material need to be chemical or flame-resistant?
• Must the material protect against extreme heat or cold?

Once you’ve determined that disposable protective clothing is the best choice, you’ll want to ensure you find quality products that will stand up to the type of use they’ll endure. They may only be single-use, but you want to ensure they last as long as the wearer requires.

You may also want to consider fit. In some jobs fit is extremely important, and in others not so much. Ill-fitting PPE can be a serious hazard in some job functions. If this is the case, you must choose PPE that comes in various sizes (rather than, for example, a one-size-fits-all coverall) or can be fitted for each individual.

Disposable Clothing Safety Standards

Disposable protective clothing must meet the same safety criteria as reusable PPE. That is, it must be appropriate to protect workers against the known hazards. Workers must be trained in the proper use and care of PPE, and all worn or damaged PPE must be replaced.

With respect to disposable items, gear that has come into contact with chemicals, flames, or other such substances should be replaced to ensure its effectiveness.

Employees using disposable PPE also need to undergo the same training as those using reusable PPE. This must cover:

• When PPE is necessary
• What type of PPE is necessary
• How to properly put on, take off, adjust, and wear PPE
• PPE limitations
• Proper disposal of PPE

PPE is a broad category, and disposable protective clothing is just one of the many options available. Remember that disposable PPE isn’t right for all circumstances, but those who use it must be aware of its limitations and understand how to properly dispose of it after each use.